Because I can't drink liquor due to allergy, my these good jiemeis planted a sabo session for me. For that moment, I rather know how to drink. Haa!

It's a non-alcohol night!

My sister and me -Alicia, my little cousin, Huiyu and me -

And then, they made me changed into something else -

And the mastermind, my darling Amy is hiding at home lor. The one who suggested this idea and my dear wifey painted it.

They made me go around to get a pair of socks, a nail cliper and a kiss from a man. Haa.. Don't wish to disturb other's party, I just went around asking the waiter. End up, I got a sock from our neighbour table. The group is very spotty and shouted:" It's people's hen's night leh, she want my undies, I also give!" *The picture is with my wifey*

My dearest wifey - Thanks for the coordination, the effort in doing the shirt and making the party so happening! Muackz!

My dear Jing rushed over after her event. Thanks for the xmas gift! I love u girls!

Glad the girls had fun for the night! I really love all my jiemeis! You girls totally rock my night! Heart all of you!

Hmm... end up, I didn't complete the tasks given. My dear wife, probably I should let you help me complete them for your coming one! *evil laugh*

Labels: My Friends Faculty, My Girls Wonderland

We both gonna EMO for quite some time on not able to attend each other wedding. As Jolene is not joining for the hen's party, she wants to give me a good treat for the day.

She brought me to fish spa at Sentosa. Woooo! It's so ticklish that I keep kicking the fishes away whenever they came near me. Haa... I really don't have the courage even to look at them. Poor Jolene trying very hard to distract me.
This little boy lifted his leg up as he can't stand it too.

Then, we had dinner at Vivo. Yummy!

Labels: My Friends Faculty

My boy had great fun at Lunar. All the room by themselves. With Sean and their friends partying away their Bachelor celebration.

Labels: My Valentine Paradise

Thanks Angelyn! Muackz!

Although April is not attending my wedding, as I'm too paisay to invite them, but she's such a sweet little girl..

A Christmas plus Wedding gift for me. Really heart this little girl! Heh!

It's my favourite shade of pink, darling... Thanks so much! I love it!

When Jolene knows I can't find my teadress, she immediately call everyone in her phonelist (ok, not everyone la) to get contacts for my teadress.

She made an appointment for me and she made her way to Eunos and bring me to the shop.

We then head towards Ikea for dinner.

The newly wed - Jolene and her darling
Me and Jolene

Labels: My Friends Faculty

A says:
what kind of tea dress

A says:
traditional?

Celine says:
wanna take cheongsum but scare too difficult to find and ex

Celine says:
if kua, ill hav to go find to rent

A says:
why dun you buy cloth to do

Celine says:
or not jus normal long red dress ba

Celine says:
u knw where to go make?

A says:
i got a tailor

A says:
but then quite expensive

Celine says:
yalor.. don wan2 spend again le

A says:
u know wat?

A says:
I would love to sponsor part of your tea dress if you dun mind

A says:
if it is not too expensive, I can buy for you

Celine says:
bu yao bu yao lah!!

Celine says:
so pai say! i now also so paisay to invite u and jason le

Ya, probably only those married and who been there, done it knows how stressful and painful to go through all these. It is unbelievable that sometimes those who commented are not knowing how it is like to go thru the period of planning. It is like I have my emotions to take care of, like I also need to go thru the emotion of leaving my parents and sister from home, it is saddening as I already start to miss them when I'm not even marry out yet. And I only have a pair of hands and a brain, how much load I have to put in myself to get things done and run. Yet, I have to take care of others throughout this whole thing. Then who to spare a thought for me? It is like to make myself busy for all these to make others happy.

Angelyn and me have barely know each other for 2 months and she always want to share my load. I feel bad enough for not unloading the work yet still need her to care about my preparation and stuffs. They know that I do keep all these by myself and only when they asked, I'll just share a bit. Also don't want people to get tenses up together with me. This Angelyn hor, nearly make me tears on my desk. Haa... I am too EMO this period. I even feel so bad for not inviting her as I feel v paisay to ask people attend my wedding and moreover I'm still so new to them.

But I really feel so blessed. Thanks ladies, for all your comments at my "Unhappy-post". So all brides actually been through all these shits. Make me feel so sad for all the brides to endure those on the happy occassion to celebrate.

Nevertheless, I will go through this period and be my best as I want my jiemeis to feel really happy for me too. I know I am not alone.

Heart all of you!

Panna Cotta from Angelyn!

Out of office - To Earle Swensens at Vivocity. Around 20 of us left the office and enjoy the wonderful lunch.

This is little April.
She's so cute that I wanna keep her in my pocket liao. Heart her!


Haa... But hor, very fierce too. Love chatting with her and I had long dated her to take pictures together. So this very day, both of us being very 'hiao' put on makeup to work. Sad that she's going to work from home starting next week and when school starts next month, she's only coming in like once a week.

She and her photoshooting addiction -





Here's Angelyn, April and Me.



Jason like a big brother to me, who always take care of me at work.



My lunch -
Meeting?


Long table lunch -

We also had Xmas present to complete our lovely treat.


I so missed my girls at EA - Alice, Alicia and Josh. And of cos Ean. I just sent them Xmas cards to the office to tell them how much I miss them!

I didn't let Mel knows I'm feeling upset and never go through all the problems with him. I think he is stress enough. I'm glad I've the girls to share my feelings. It's good enough. I don't even want to discuss the unsettled with my parents. Because I know how to spare a thought for them. As I know how it feels to kena bombed by others...

Even before reading my previous blogpost, he was MSN-ing me in a conversation of doing what is left undone. And suddenly...

---

Melvin says: i just wan a happy bride

Celine says: u know im unhappy?

Melvin says: yes

Celine says: now i got tears in my eyes le

---

And my tears filled up the computer screen of my MSN. I really have no mood and not looking forward to the day. Maybe those just want to make me feel this way.

But I'm glad - He knows and he wants me to be happy.

Labels: My Moods Mansion, My Valentine Paradise

The only golden rule is: Be Happy

Is it that easy?

I'm so glad that throughout these weeks, my parents and girls had really showed their understanding. The girls want to help as much as to less burden my tasks on hand.

With just Mel and me - 2 of us to settle from choosing the venue to as minor as searching for flower petals.

It's so much to be done and yet I was so disappointed by the little things shown by my other closer ones.

Even my colleagues at work whom I'm not inviting showered me with a lot of concern and help me along the way.

I'm not comparing nor trying to see who is helping or not. I don't expect people to help as they are not supposed to do so. But can't they just understand my stress and leave the things as it is than to make it worse for me? There's so much things I need to go through and to do. There's only so much that I can do with my strength - alone.

Details like choosing jiemeis corsages is also my appreciation for them, I took time to find something that it is nice for me to give them. Little things like searching for flowergirls dresses and accessories to make sure they look at their best. Even simple things like flowergirl basket, how to deco it, angbao boxes and wrap it nice took a day to complete. We don't need comments like why this is like this, why not like that, why you want to do so many of these things... or something like "you want our boy to appear for your day, you need to spend on clothes leh!"

It's my day. Why should I keep listening to other's comments and follow according to what is this and that to be done. It is my day, don't they understand that they should actually let me be as happy and minus away those unnecessary remarks.

Worse is when they are your close ones.

I'm glad Jolene has been on email with me - everyday - to follow up with my stuffs and guide me as much as she can. Although she wasn't physically to help me but I know she was so geniue to help. She is really amazing for taking away my sorrow as much. Probably she doesn't knows about it but I'm really touched.

When she told me about her guests actually can tell her that they are flying on her AD when she told them about her wedding more than 6 months ago. When guests start telling her that she can't make it for her wedding, make her really upset. I understand how it feels. And I told myself I only invite my close friends. Nice and sweet.

Those who will actually reply: "Where is the venue?" (does it matter?) / "Who else is going huh?" / "Err... I can't confirm now leh" (these kind of friends won't know if they want to attend anot even its that week of your wedding) then can straight away remove them from the guestlist. Lucky for me, I only got one of them who replied me with one of the above tag. I can't be bothered to reply and just delete the name off my guestlist.

I'm too upset now. To that extend that I don't even dare to let my parents know I've no teadress at this moment. Meaning all these are still on pending. The timeline is so tight that I'd tried my best to squeeze every minute to get things done and yet still kena say. Try to work things out after work but I am seriously too tired and these 2 weekends still need to do event on Saturdays.

So wedding is not just simply take photos, have a wedding gown and ta-da banquet is done and its over.

Even things like asking my neighbour to remove the shoe rack out from our common doorstep seems to be a problem. I need to go talk to them again a day before my wedding then. How frustrating this is!

I'm exhausted.

You do not know where to start after the proposal…
You do not know when to start…
You are lost on how to start the planning…

I was just as lost too! So, for now, I’m halfway done/there to my wedding day…
And this is the best I can share with all of you!

Firstly, you gotta wait till after the day he proposes.

Proposal means: An offer of marriage


It is when the man will go on ‘one-knee’ and do his proposal with a diamond ring (proposal ring) to the woman. If she accepts it, meaning, she is ready for marriage.
It is usually a one big diamond on the ring which is known as solitaire. Do a research on the Cut, Clarity, Colour, Carat.

The most popular question ever:
How are you sure he/she is the one for you?

- Both of you had make long term plans together.
- Both of you are on the right communication frequency.
- You start saving every cent so to give her a good wedding.
- You start looking at bridal magazine and think about walking down the aisle with him.
- You pass by jewelry shop and start to think which ring fits her.
- You consider her/his family as your own.
- You can accept each other flaws.
- You want her to be the mother of your children.
- You want to experience life with her/him.
- You have been thinking about the wedding scene with him.

And many more points which only you will know the reason and answer.

A note to the men: This is a moment where you should really make your lady happy and make sure it is memorable. Take really good planning on where and when you should pop the question. The tricky part would be choosing the diamond ring. Think of ways on how to get her ring size. Or not you have to take the risk. Most likely, you could bring your lady to do the resize (ask the shop) after the proposal. Best is to secretly take a ring from her jewelry box and trace the inner part of the ring on a piece of paper.

A note to the women: This is a few seconds moment and you will remember for life. It is also a moment where your man will blush. Enjoy the love!

Normally, the good friends of the bride and groom will throw an engagement party for the couple. But this is not practice in our culture. Ours will be known as the Registry of Marriages.

After accepting the guy’s proposal, the couple would decide when to get ‘officially engaged’.

I would urge the couple to go and start their lovenest search instead. Start to ballot for new BTO of your choice as it would normally take about 3 years upon completion.

When you are ready to settle down, get ready to be busy!

Decide whether to hold your ROM at its ROM office or a venue outside. If you picked on a hot date to do at the ROM office, make sure you take note on the filing date via the internet.

If you decide on an outside venue, then you have to source for a place that both of you like and go through your budget to decide on the cost like rental and menu. Hot date for a hot venue is best to book early.

After all are done, be prepared for the big day. This actual day (AD) is usually followed up with the tradition Chinese culture.

1. Set a date for your wedding. Normally, we will go to a fengshui master to get him to ‘calculate’ the date. Get a few more alternative dates just in case your venue is not available. You have to provide him your date of birth, time of birth, your parents date of birth.



2. Set your budget.

3. Book your venue. This could be very frustrating. The venues with the hot dates (suitable for marriage) are normally being book up to 2 years in advance. Go to wedding shows to get better deals for your banquet package. Do remember that the banquet cost per table might go up every calendar year.

4. Book your photographer and videographer as you get to come across with the works that you like. As you already have your wedding date and confirmed your venue, might as well book this 2 most important person of your AD whom will capture your precious moment. But do not rush into it, make sure you’re comfortable with them and their work.

5. Look for your bridal shop (BS). This is another big decision to make and you wouldn’t want anything to go wrong, like the shop that closed down just before your AD. Take really good effort and spent lots of time to find a good bridal shop which you trust their service, their gown, their photography skill, their makeup skill, their reviews and the package deal.

Since it is still a long way to go before your AD, I would say you have to really go around everywhere to look at every other couples album (not the models portfolio) and spend a good time to read all the reviews about them before signing the package. Go through the list which they are going to throw in for you. When you finally decided on that BS, work on your bargaining skill; get as much things as you can before you decided to make the payment.

6. By now, all your close friends should know your AD date and you would have tell them to be your maid of honor, jiemeis, bestman, brothers (xiong di).

7. If you are holding your ROM on your AD, remember to confirm your Justice of Peace for your date.

After all these are done, you can relax a bit till 6 month before the AD.

6 more months to go…

- Shop for your wedding shoes, accessories and groom’s attire
- Purchase wedding bands
- Go for your pre-wedding portfolio shoot
- Compile your guestlist
- Decide on your florist and book your makeup artist if your BS doesn’t include

4 to 5 months to go…

- Shop for your flowergirls dresses and pageboys suits
- Select and finalise your wedding photos, album and design

3 months to go…
- Organise your AD programme
- Inform you guests
- Call your soleminser and do e-filing. (for those who ROM on AD)
- Arrange for ‘ti-qing’ session for both parents
- ‘ti-qing’ session will involve discussion such as tables to give to the bride’s side and ‘guo-da-li’ (GDL) items (the Chinese custom of the groom’s family to give to the bride’s family with dowry and gifts)
- Oh, remember to get your fengshui master to ‘calculate’ for your GDL and an-chuang date and time

2 months to go…
- Collect all your wedding photos, album
- Go for food-tasting and confirm menu, collect invitation cards
- Finalise all flowers, themes, music, montage, car arrangements
- Write your speeches
- Buy all the items for GDL and an-chuang
- Print invitation inserts
- Source for wines
- Confirm caterer

1 month to go…
- Chase for late invitation replies and finalise gust list
- Schedule for jiemeis and xiongdis meeting. Assign all duties.
- Finalise the speeches
- GDL
- Mail out all invitations. (which have to be done after GDL)
- Have final gown fitting and accessories
- Trial makeup session

2 weeks to go…
- Finalise headcount and seating arrangements
- Prepare all hongbaos

1 week to go…
- Pick up gown and suit
- Single party
- An-chuang
- Go for spa

1 day to go…
- Have manicure and pedicure
- Get car deco done
- Collect bouquet

Actual Day…
ENJOY!

It’s not an easy task to do. Many people will come back to you telling you such things as: Confirm the date when it is nearer. End up, you will get replies from them that they are going for a holiday trip at your AD etc. The most headache part is the guestlist. It is ever changing even to the day of your AD! So please, if your friends invite you to their wedding, mark and block that day straight from your calendar! You will get to experience the pain when it is your turn!

GDL items is another list which you have to be sure about. Check out both yours and your partner’s dialet to know what have to be given and to be done. Like the teochew brides will get the four-gold (si-dian-jin) while the hokkiens will get the bangles. And the pin jin is the amount (like $2888, $3888) which the guy’s parents will give to the girl’s parents. And the bride's family will have to prepare dowry for the girl.

An-chuang have to be done with a new bedframe, new mattress and new bedsheets with some auspicious items on the bed and nobody is allow to be one the bed till the wedding is over.

And be prepared to fork out a lot of money out for this once a lifetime. Like the solitaire, wedding bands and the BS package could be easily amount to $10k and the sum might not had included your AD photographer, videographer, makeup artist, hongbaos for soleminser, jiemeis, xiongdis, flowergirls, pageboys, gatecrashing etc. And for banquet, the tables given to the girl’s side are also part of the gesture that the male side has to give. Which mean, the hongbaos are all for the bride’s parents to keep.

Don’t forget to give your jiemeis and xiongdis a treat before or after the wedding. Normally, they’re the best friends of yours. Or the treat for the last single nightout or your buddies will give that as a treat to you.

Planning the whole wedding thing could be very stressful and frustrating. Some couples broke off during the planning period to find that they could not compromise each other. It is the crucial part to get the two of them together. As friends, we have to give the best support. It is definitely not easy to do the planning and executing it. I’m really thankful for my dearest to keep me so excited to my big day. They’re often the ones to throw in ideas and offer to do a big part of the process. They make me so look forward to my day.

Keep a wedding journal to let you keep track of your progress and to thank all your wonderful friends.

http://melvinandceline.weddingannouncer.com/

Throughout all these period, you will have this site as your bestfriend too - where you will get all the reviews from BS to banquet to wedding ideas to ROM details.

http://www.singaporebrides.com/

Finally, is the wedding celebration a complete now?

No. It is only the beginning of a marriage.

What happens at the end of the aisle?

It was super heavy rain when we had the Guo Da Li (GDL). Waaah, I thought that good eh, it means wealthy. Rain (water) = Money! Haa... Just my logic lah, some people says if it rains on your Actual Day (AD) means that you're stingy. Whatever...

For teochew bride, the groom gotta bring this kind of basket with all the GDL items in it to bring over to the bride house. The groom will normally be accompained by a matchmaker (his auntie).

This basket is super duper heavy!!


(1) 12 Oranges
(2) Pig trotter (replaced by AngBao)
(3) Cakes
(4) 2 bottles of liquors
(5) 2 pairs Dragon Phoenix candles
(6) Dried longan, Lotus seeds and Red dates
(7) Traditional peanut and Sesame Candies 豆条芝麻条
(8) Teochew Ah Ma kuey + AngBao
(9) Pin Jing
(10) Si Dian Jin 四点金



It's Official!

Labels: My Valentine Paradise